Striped hyenas help keep India clean, but remain misunderstood
Increasing awareness of the ecological value of striped hyenas will help mitigate the cultural beliefs keeping striped hyenas at the brink
The Indian striped hyena, known for its distinctive appearance, scavenging habits and nocturnal behavior, is often misunderstood due to its appearance and folklore. It is estimated that there are between 1,000 and 3,000 striped hyenas in India, one of the largest populations of the species in the world. The lack of data on the animal's population makes it challenging to establish safe habitats, but India has managed to estimate the snow leopard's population similarly.
In India, striped hyenas are considered mounts of witches in certain cultures' folklore, which hinders conservation efforts. Despite their status under the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, there is no unified action plan to protect them. Some regional initiatives exist, such as the Wildlife Information and Nature Guide Society's awareness drives in West Bengal and Tamil Nadu's Rs 14 lakh allocation for conservation.
A National Action Plan to unite the resources of state-level programs could be beneficial for striped hyena protection. Increasing awareness of the ecological value of striped hyenas, such as their role in maintaining clean landscapes and water sources, is crucial. Reframing cultural narratives without causing offense requires community engagement through activities like street plays. India's striped hyenas are more important than often recognized.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
